Storm Chasing Documentary

Re: Storm Chasing Documentary

Back to the topic...

Hey -- as there is lightning in the area... I got to thinking: What would be best to shoot lightning in a night sky? Fast shutter? Progressive?

CaptM
 
Re: Storm Chasing Documentary

San Diego is usually just mellow. Between 70 and 85 typically. No rain, no snow. ;D
 
Re: Storm Chasing Documentary

Its Saturday AM 12:36.. Im up surfing the weather sites as Saturday is another BIG day in meteorological terms. Chasers are all abuzz interpreting data to try and target where the storm(s) are likely to hit.

Overall the entire plains region is getting severe converging Tstorm data.

I will wake up with little sleep dreaming of my upcoming adventure probably around 8 or 9 AM then scan the weather sites again and make my way down the highway to intercept a SUPERCELL.. Driving several hours possibly as some think OKC may be the target. Terry Ill be  heading your way possibly. ;D  

All i can think about is chasing these storms Im somewhat overwhelmingly obsessed with  it. Like brain Damage or mental illness.. Obsessive Compulsive....

I have taken my Bogen tripod and it snugs quit nicely in the front seat floorboard of my Lincoln So this time i wont miss all of the storm damage while driving. I got all my maps , batteries charged, and other equipment loaded up and ready to go. Wish me luck  ;D
 
Re: Storm Chasing Documentary

Hey Fred-

If you head to OKC from around 2pm-4 or 5 i'll be down there too! :)
 
Re: Storm Chasing Documentary

Hey guys,
WOW!!!!! The most amazing experience of my life!!!!
it is 2:30am Sunday; I have just logged a little over 500 miles.

Heres the story.

I woke up around 9 am saturday morning and left the house around 10am or so. i went to Salina Kansas because that was where all the buzz was in the storm chasing community. I pulled into a truck stop and there were maybe a dozen or more chasers there.. you can always tell as they have unique vehicles decked out with antennas etc.

I was pumping gas and started talking to some young kids .. A couple of guys in their early 20's from Illinois and another 18 year old from Wichita kansas. They had sattelite and internet uplink so we could forecast in realtime right there on the side of the highway. We ended up going up to Concordia Kansas and hung out at a truckstop for about 1.5 hours whating for the cap. Then we picked up on radar a storm cell brewing about 15 or 20 miles to our south west. We headed down there around Beloit Kansas 10 miles to the east of Beloit.

We set up in a farmers yard basically as it seemed like a good place to view what they thought was going to be initiation.. after about 30 - 45 minutes it formed. There it was a spindley rope like tornado it was awesome.. It was on the ground for maybe 30 - 45 seconds. #1

We then regrouped and headed back north west to follow the storm so.. We get to right outside of Beloit... There it was!!!.. A beautiful contrasting trunk that formed heading right at me.. I filmed and for some reason wasnt really scared as I should have been.. It picked up and went over head as I filmed it.. Tornado #2

We then went a little further north and oh my God.. I bet there were maybe 300 chasers there... maybe a half a million dollars worth of camcorders.. lol..

Now comes the Tornado sighting fo a lifetime.. It was a Wedge.. maybe 3/4 of a mile wide.. Demonic.. Awe inspiring.. Overwhelming.. Everyone was overwhelmed with its enormous size.. I was now scared as this 3/4 of a mile wide Tornado it is coming right at us maybe 1 mile away or less.. I was scared especially when I was zoomed out 100% with my DVX and it took up the whole field fo view.. I just stood there awe struck.. I couldnt believe what i was seeing.. I asked the fella next to me.. Is that really a Tornado????? We couldnt believe it.. It was only about a 1 - 1.5 minute deal when it took a left turn to head north and got rain wrapped into the cell.. Tornado #3

We then flanked and chased for a view of another 5 or 6 total Tornados.. we seen a **** load of funnel clouds that didnt hit the ground.. So I am zombified.. tired.. cant relax really, tense.. Need a beer..

I cant wait for tommorrow when i can link up my camera and check out the footage to relive it once again.. Im going to make some shorts of the footage. If someone knows where I can post it.. ill put the footage up for you guys to see.

Terry - Kai - I hear you guys got a storm down there too.. hope no one was badly injured. We will need to hook up and chase next year and finish up the doc. Put it on your itenraries ; ) I hope to have alll the satellite and laptop goodies by next season. Wow! Im tired.. Drop me a line guys and again if anyone knows where to post a short for streaming let me know where.. ;D Chat soon Im off to bed for some nightmarish dreams...
 
Re: Storm Chasing Documentary

Fred, That sounds cool. Do you know what classifications those tornadoes fell into? Are you familiar with the Fujita scale?

No, no, no... not FAJITAS... its Fujita. :)

Yesterday there were six tornadoes that swept across central Oklahoma. Last night a tornado passed within 5 miles of my house. It was kinda scary for a few moments.

I didn't get video of any funnels, but I was at the local CBS affiliate when the outbreak occurred and was able to get some behind the scenes footage of their cut-ins and newscast.

Kai, are you able to hook up Fred with some temporary hosting?
 
Re: Storm Chasing Documentary

Wow! That was like the whole through-line of "Twister" . . .

In a parallel universe, I'm a storm chaser.
 
Re: Storm Chasing Documentary

Terry,
I am famiiar with the F scale.. Im unsure.. but the damage I seen looked like f2 or f3 I need to study some sites and report back
 
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Terry, i think they rated that wedge I saw that was about 3/4 mile wide as an F2.. They have to survey destructive paths of part of the equation...
 
Re: Storm Chasing Documentary

Yeah, it does take a while to survey the damage and classify the wind speeds necessary to do particular damage.

I look forward to seeing the video you got.
 
Re: Storm Chasing Documentary

Hey Fred- PM me and i'll hook you up with some space to host your files...
 
Re: Storm Chasing Documentary

I sent you a message Kai :)

What I learned. Ok I have really great footage. But....

#1
I used a bogen 3271 w/501 tripod. I never chased 5 or 6 tornados in one day before.
I used the tripod wedged in the front floorboard of my Towncar w/ the seat all the way back. It snugged up in there real nice.
However; It was a real pain in the ass taking it out. setting up and leveling quickly with a tornado barreling down on ya. Then jumping in your car and setting it back up level and drive and keep up with the team and not wreck and people running in the road with cars pulling out infromt of ya...on and on and on...
It is a menace and just an accident waiting to happen. I used to work hard labor when I was young. I was an Ironworker (structural steel) and what I learned was that all the old Ironworkers who were still alive and not maimed were very cautious, methodical and took their time when doing something dangerous.
Back on track.....
My point is we are running like teens on crack and trying to set up and balance settings and level off is all a pain in the ass.. I can't keep up. Too much action deal. I think I need a monopod... lol

Some of the others I was following were not using their tripods all the time and I have to admit I was getting worn out setting up taking down setting up taking down and so I was at another critical moment I feel not using a tripod. Although the footage was good it wasnt at its optimum because i wasnt locked  down I was breathing heavy due to the anxiety of the moment and trying to lean on the car for stability.

Solution: Monopod and quick release plate set up to place and replace into installed camera mount in vehicle.

#2
I grew up in Kansas and I have this kinda hick like persona I try to accentuate at times to define my character .. So out of habit not paying attention to the fact Im creating a professional product my language wasnt always appropriate. When I saw this 3/4 mile wedge coming at us I used the explative (some *****) in that hickish way alot. I must of said it 5 times... Oh, so Ill just maybe have to use some bumper music over to make it all good...lol ;D

#3
I also was having troubles trying to get a perspective on the storms I was shooting so I did a little more panning and zooming not as a whole mindfully but in critical moments of really great footage. Im not directing the show, God is so Im just trying to follow. Leason learned I suppose. just try to get a wide shot or have 2 cameramen one focused into the action and another getting a wide shot for making a good edit later.

So in summary I need a better way than the set up tripod 100 times deal....
I need 2 camera ops for better overall coverage and ...
I need to tone down the commentary somewhat.

Hopefully ill get this opportunity again.. It was and still can be a busy season. Im up for another trip ;D I still am thinking about this one WOW!
 
Re: Storm Chasing Documentary

I really need that smaller DVC 30 although I know the footage will more than likely not match worth a ****..
 
Re: Storm Chasing Documentary

No, no, no...

You just need to hook up with someone who can drive/navigate while you shoot... or vice versa.
 
Re: Storm Chasing Documentary

Your right Terry.. most of my friends however think im nuts or stupid and arent that interested in what they consider risk. When I go into work on Tuesday morning with some footage they really will think Im crazy cause although the footage isnt the same as being there they will certainly get the general idea of the terror that the person filming it must have...

It is such an unbelievable adrenalein rush. Next year i will be all decked out on equipment. You and Kai can Pencil me in your schedules for next years storm season. IMAX Tornado documentary comes out in 2008 I read so I would like to release the one we are talking about by 2006. If it would even matter. but you have to have a goal. :)
 
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